Paintings by a former Guernsey AIDS victim will be on display at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, to raise awareness of the disease in conjunction with World AIDS Day.

Ian Clayton, was born a haemophiliac. It's thought he contracted the HIV virus from a contaminated batch of factor VIII plasma, used to treat his blood disorder whilst he was living in Crete teaching English.

Ian moved to Guernsey in 1992 with his partner Kate and began painting a series of watercolour views of the island before he passed away in July 1993.

His paintings have been loaned to the PEH by his partner especially to promote World AIDS Day.

The exhibition is on view until 2nd December.

Health Promotion Manager Yvonne Le Page said: "We welcome the opportunity to highlight the messages about World AIDS Day in this creative way as, despite more people than ever before living with HIV, public awareness is declining. The number of people living with HIV in the UK has trebled in the last 10 years to over 90,000. Information about the prevention of HIV and AIDS will be available from the display or from the Health Promotions Unit."

According to UN AIDS estimates, there are now 33.4 million people living with HIV, including 2.1 million children.

A total of 37 individuals, 12 females and 25 males, have been diagnosed with HIV in Guernsey between 1999 and 2010 - of whom 19 are still being cared for on-island.

But Health and Social Services say the island is still working to overcome the stigma associated with the disease.

An anonymous AIDS sufferer on Guernsey said: "This is such a beautiful island, it's my home, with great people living here, but it's a small place, still relatively conservative, people can be quick to judge others, people worry what their friends and family think about them. People must know that this dreadful virus can affect anyone…. Please don't judge others, just because lightning struck them. HIV is a reality, even here in Guernsey. Think carefully before you take that risk - you could be living with the consequences for the rest of your life." (from CTV)

......THE BOSS......

"Always be yourself because the people who mind don't matter, and the people who matter don't mind"